Shawnee, OK Road Trips

Burial Plot of Brewster Higley, 1500 North Center Ave, ☏ +1 405 878-1529. The now-deceased author of the western epic "Home on the Range" has his final resting place in Fairview Cemetery next to McDonald's on Harrison Street. Pottawatomie County Museum (Santa Fe Depot), 614 E Main St, ☏ +1 405 275-8412. Old railroad station turned museum. Has working railroad tracks. Also with a 19th-century log cabin built by early settlers and caboose. 1 Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, 1900 W MacArthur Dr (on the St Gregory's campus acquired by Oklahoma Baptist University in 2019), ☏ +1 405-225-0363, [email protected]. Includes works covering different periods and cultures like Egyptian, Renaissance, and Native American. Also be sure to see the St. Gregory's Abbey on the campus as well, with its elaborate interior design. Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center, 1899 S Gordon Cooper Dr, ☏ +1 405-878-5830. Showcases exhibits about this proud nation. Many old buildings from Shawnee's early years still remain, although most have changed facade or fallen into disrepair. However, Shawnee has revitalized a three-block section of Bell Street, one of Shawnee's oldest roads and site of the Aldrige Hotel and former Round House Building. 2 Aldrige Hotel, 20 East 9th St, ☏ +1 405 275-9500 (Apartments), +1 405 273-3030 (Barber Shop). Once renowned hotel tower that has been internally restored by federal funding as housing for the indigent elderly. Round House Manufacturing (Shawnee Garment Building), 113 1/2 North Bell St.

Heart of Oklahoma Shawnee Expo Center (fairgrounds and outdoor arena), 1700 W. Independence, ☏ +1 405 275-7020. Cinema Center 8, 3031 North Harrison, ☏ +1 405 275-7511. Movie theater, Jones Theaters. Oklahoma Baptist University Sporting Events. Oklahoma Baptist University Theater, ☏ +1 405 878-2347. Shawnee Airport Jogging Trail, 2202 Airport Dr, ☏ +1 405 878-1625 (Airport Manager). 4-mile track built in mid 1990s courtesy federal grant, Shawnee Bowl Family Fun Center, 701 North Harrison St, ☏ +1 405 275-4064. Shawnee Little Theater, 1829 Airport Dr, ☏ +1 405 275-2805. Theater Shawnee Public Library, 101 North Philadelphia Ave, ☏ +1 405 275-6353, +1 405 273-3334 (Administrative Services). Star Skate, 37303 45th St, ☏ +1 405 273-2030. Roller skating rink. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Headquarters, 811 East Macarthur St, ☏ +1 405 273-7098. Weekend concerts and annual Super Bowl parties. Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) (Saratoga & Hornet Street), ☏ +1 405 273-4386. Gyms, fitness facilities, youth sports. Shawnee Golf and Country Club, 2501 Augusta, ☏ +1 405 273-4076, +1 405 273-2764 (Golf Shop), +1 405 273-0784 (Greens Keeper), +1 405 273-1763 (Office). Collared shirt and appropriate golf attire required. 18-hole course, pro store, and club house dining available. Fire Lake Golf Course, 1901 South Gordon Cooper Dr, ☏ +1 405 275-4471. 18-hole course; usually considered to Shawnee's budget golfing: "Golfing for the price of a gordita", Miniature golf located nearby.

Like most towns of any size in Oklahoma, Shawnee is inundated with most of the fast food restaurants you can think of and also has many all-you-can-eat buffets (mostly Chinese food). Most places to eat are either on the northern edge of town along interstate highway I-40, sprinkled along Harrison and Kickapoo Street, or downtown on the south side of Shawnee. Shawnee also has many pizza kitchens, although many of these are carry-out/delivery only. Frateli's. If you're wanting something more special, authentic Italian cooking with menus that go way beyond pizza and spaghetti can be found at Frateli's, just south of OBU on Kickapoo. Bandana Reds Steakhouse, 37808 Old Hwy 270 (On south US 177), ☏ +1 405 273-7977. Abuelita's (at the corner of Harrison and Independence). Perhaps the best Mexican menu in town is at Abuelita's. Vans, Highland Street. A local BBQ favorite. Hamburger King (downtown). A fun diner. Orders are placed using phones located at each booth. Robb's Smokehouse, 2321 N. Kickapoo (across from OBU). The 2nd most popular BBQ place in town.

Chili's, 512 Shawnee Mall Dr, ☏ +1 405 395-9070. POTT County Liar's Club, 523 South Chapman, ☏ +1 405 275-0222. Long Ears Club, 12512 Valley View Rd, ☏ +1 405 981-9197. Watering Hole Saloon, 8803 N Harrison St, ☏ +1 405 878-9557. Brickhouse Saloon, 113 1/2 N Bell Ave St (Downtown), ☏ +1 405 214-1111.

Colonial Inn, 4700 North Harrison, ☏ +1 405 878-0120. Free HBO. Hampton Inn, 4851 North Kickapoo, ☏ +1 405 275-1540. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 4909 N. Union, ☏ +1 405 275-8880. Super 8 Motel, 5104 N Harrison St (I-40 & Highway 18 Exit), ☏ +1 405 432-1528.

Practically the only method of getting in or out of Shawnee is on the highway. Taxi cabs can be hired by calling a taxi service to have them pick you up, although doing so from another city could prove expensive. There is an Enterprise Rent-a-Car in Shawnee and Shawnee Airport. Many visitors will rent at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. Most traffic enters and exits Shawnee via Interstate Highway I-40, although State Highway 3 and US Highway 177 also pass through Shawnee. Greyhound buses make daily stops in front of the American Colony motel on the far north side of Shawnee. From there you will have to either call a taxi or arrange another form of pickup. Shawnee was established as a railroad hub, and still has many infrequently used rail tracks. Chartered flights can fly you in to Shawnee airport, most likely originating from Oklahoma City or Tulsa. There are no commercial flight charter services based in Shawnee, so arrangements for your eventual pickup would have to be made as well. While towns in Oklahoma are quite spread out, some have been known to hitchhike especially along I-40. Not preferred.

If you are a tourist, getting around in Shawnee means either calling a taxi cab service to pick you up or using a rental car. Shawnee is very, very spread out and you will quickly abandon any thoughts of walking if you ever want to get where you're going.